October-November To kick off this year's aquaponics system, we reorganized our downstairs space in the corner of the Innovation Lab. We took inventory of our containers, chemicals, and supplies- discarding materials we no longer needed- and systematically arranged and labeled them on our shelving. We also began looking at our space in the greenhouse, upstairs on the fourth floor. We organized our materials and space upstairs, including the larger scale aquaponics system that was used by students last year, which we hope to use for an initial aquaponics system of our own.
Over the past several weeks, we have primarily been working on cleaning up the 200-gallon tank upstairs in the greenhouse so we can start cycling the system without so much mold and dirt and without the threat of algae spores booming in our system. To do this, we used chlorine bleach to sterilize the fish tank, both grow beds, tubing and hosing, the clay hydroton beads we will be using to grow our plants in, and the plastic containers that will hold the hydroton. We investigated different methods of holding both the plants and hydroton beads, settling on using a floating foam system in one growbed and a sunken system in the other growbed.
We ran into a few problems with the electrical system upstairs, which is necessary for our pump to circulate water between the fishtank and growbeds. Rather than wait for building maintenance to come fix it, we have ordered two direct current pumps that will run on power collected by a solar panel, with a battery for backup. Once these pumps have been delivered, we will set up the tubing and cycle the system until we can ensure that it is leak free.
We have also been taking care of a bottom feeder, a common pleco, to practice testing and balancing water chemistry, namely ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, and pH levels. Fernanda Mariana, named for Brazil, the country where her species is most commonly found, is doing considerably better than at the beginning of the year. She started off rough, with her ammonia levels dangerously higher than 8 ppm. Luckily we brought those down to 1 ppm and falling.
CJ cleaning out the fish tank
Nell and Adela rinsing the growbeds
Sarah dumping the algae filled water pumped out of the fish tank
CJ and Sarah with more algae filled water
Adela scrubbing the fish tank
Short term goals and tasks
Fernanda's tank and whiteboard
Some downstairs organization
December-January
Sarah testing the solar power
Sealing off the water upstairs
Setting up the solar panels!
Our new neon tetras and serape
Fernanda and some beans and parsley
Germinating bean and Parsley
Measuring off the plant holes for the raft
February-March
Setting up the downstairs hydroton tank
Upstairs pump finally set up!
Full view of the system
Water coming out of working pump
Germinating strawberries
Full downstairs system
Check out the A-Block Aquaponics team of 2013-2014 here!
Check out the F-Block Aquaponics team of 2013-2014 here!
What is "Aquaponics"?
Aquaponics is the method of growing crops and fish in a circular system.
C-Block Aquaponics 2014-2015
October-NovemberTo kick off this year's aquaponics system, we reorganized our downstairs space in the corner of the Innovation Lab. We took inventory of our containers, chemicals, and supplies- discarding materials we no longer needed- and systematically arranged and labeled them on our shelving. We also began looking at our space in the greenhouse, upstairs on the fourth floor. We organized our materials and space upstairs, including the larger scale aquaponics system that was used by students last year, which we hope to use for an initial aquaponics system of our own.
Over the past several weeks, we have primarily been working on cleaning up the 200-gallon tank upstairs in the greenhouse so we can start cycling the system without so much mold and dirt and without the threat of algae spores booming in our system. To do this, we used chlorine bleach to sterilize the fish tank, both grow beds, tubing and hosing, the clay hydroton beads we will be using to grow our plants in, and the plastic containers that will hold the hydroton. We investigated different methods of holding both the plants and hydroton beads, settling on using a floating foam system in one growbed and a sunken system in the other growbed.
We ran into a few problems with the electrical system upstairs, which is necessary for our pump to circulate water between the fishtank and growbeds. Rather than wait for building maintenance to come fix it, we have ordered two direct current pumps that will run on power collected by a solar panel, with a battery for backup. Once these pumps have been delivered, we will set up the tubing and cycle the system until we can ensure that it is leak free.
We have also been taking care of a bottom feeder, a common pleco, to practice testing and balancing water chemistry, namely ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, and pH levels. Fernanda Mariana, named for Brazil, the country where her species is most commonly found, is doing considerably better than at the beginning of the year. She started off rough, with her ammonia levels dangerously higher than 8 ppm. Luckily we brought those down to 1 ppm and falling.
December-January
February-March
Check out the A-Block Aquaponics team of 2013-2014 here!
Check out the F-Block Aquaponics team of 2013-2014 here!
What is "Aquaponics"?Aquaponics is the method of growing crops and fish in a circular system.
Why Aquaponics?
What is the Chemistry behind an Aquaponics System?
How do you test Water Chemistry in an Aquaponics System?
Our short term goals:
Our long term goals:
For more information about Aquaponics, water testing, and setup, click here!